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  White light-emitting device using fluorescent fiberRelated Patent Categories: Optical Waveguides, Having Particular Optical Characteristic Modifying Chemical Composition, Of Waveguide CoreThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070122103. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present application is based on Japanese patent application No. 2005-346840, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to a white light-emitting device using a fluorescent fiber, and more particularly to a white light-emitting device, using a fluorescent fiber, which is suitable for being used as various kinds of a light source for a backlight for a liquid crystal television, and a light source including a neon tube. [0004] 2. Description of Related Art [0005] In recent years, a light-emitting device using a semiconductor light-emitting element such as a light-emitting diode (LED) element or a light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation (LASER) element has been widely utilized as various kinds of a light source because it is advantageous in miniaturization, an excellent power efficiency, and a long life as compared with the case of an incandescent lamp. [0006] Heretofore, a light source including a semiconductor light-emitting element for emitting an excitation light, a wavelength-converting member containing therein a phosphor material for emitting wavelength conversion lights by receiving the excitation light emitted from the semiconductor light-emitting element, and an optical fiber for guiding the excitation light to the wavelength-converting member has been known as this sort of a light source. This light source, for example, is disclosed in the Japanese Patent Kokai No. 2005-205195. [0007] In such a light source, when the excitation light emitted from the semiconductor light-emitting element reaches the wavelength-converting member through the optical fiber, the phosphor material receives a part of the excitation light to make the wavelength conversion, thereby emitting wavelength conversion lights each having a predetermined wavelength range within the wavelength-converting member. The resulting wavelength conversion lights and the excitation light emitted from the semiconductor light-emitting element are then optically multiplexed to be radiated in the form of an illuminating light to the outside. [0008] However, in the case of the light source disclosed in the Japanese Patent Kokai No. 2005-205195, the wavelength-converting member is connected to a light emission side end face of the optical fiber. As a result, there is encountered such a problem that an optical coupling loss is generated between the optical fiber and the wavelength-converting member, and thus an efficiency of utilizing the light is reduced. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] In the light of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a white light-emitting device, using a fluorescent fiber, in which generation of an optical coupling loss can be suppressed, and thus an efficiency of utilizing a light can be enhanced. [0010] In order to attain the above-mentioned object, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a white light-emitting device using a fluorescent fiber, including: a blue semiconductor light-emitting element for emitting an excitation light; and an optical fiber having a first side end face and a second side end face, the excitation light emitted from the blue semiconductor light-emitting element being made incident to the first side end face to be guided to the second side end face, the optical fiber including: a core containing therein a phosphor for emitting wavelength conversion lights by being excited by the excitation light supplied from the blue semiconductor light-emitting element; and a cladding member having a light emission surface in its peripheral surface, at least a part of optically multiplexed lights, which are obtained by optically multiplexing the wavelength conversion lights and the excitation light, being emitted through the light emission surface. [0011] In order to attain the above-mentioned object, according to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a white light-emitting device using a fluorescent fiber, including: a blue semiconductor light-emitting element for emitting an excitation light; and an optical fiber having a first side end face and a second side end face, the excitation light emitted from the blue semiconductor light-emitting element being made incident to the first side end face to be guided to the second side end face, the optical fiber including: a core including a low phonon glass containing therein at least praseodymium ions, as trivalent rare earth ions, for emitting wavelength conversion lights by being excited by the excitation light; and a cladding member having a light emission surface in its peripheral surface, at least a part of optically multiplexed lights, which are obtained by optically multiplexing the wavelength conversion lights and the excitation light, being emitted through the light emission surface. [0012] In order to attain the above-mentioned object, according to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a white light-emitting device using a fluorescent fiber, including: a blue semiconductor light-emitting element for emitting an excitation light; and an optical fiber having a first side end face and a second side end face, the excitation light emitted from the blue semiconductor light-emitting element being made incident to the first side end face to be guided to the second side end face, the optical fiber including: a core including a low phonon glass containing therein a phosphor for emitting wavelength conversion lights by being excited by an excitation light having a wavelength falling within a range of 430 to 490 nm as the excitation light; and a cladding member having a light emission surface in its peripheral surface, at least a part of optically multiplexed lights, which are obtained by optically multiplexing the wavelength conversion lights and the excitation light, being emitted through the light emission surface. [0013] According to the present invention, the generation of the optical coupling loss can be suppressed, and thus the efficiency of utilizing the light can be enhanced. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0014] FIG. 1 is a plan view for explaining a white light-emitting device using a fluorescent fiber according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [0015] FIGS. 2A and 2B are respectively a perspective view and a cross sectional view for explaining a blue semiconductor laser element of the light-emitting device according to the first embodiment of the present invention; [0016] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view for explaining the fluorescent fiber of the light-emitting device according to the first embodiment of the present invention; [0017] FIG. 4 is a spectrum diagram of an output light emitted from the light-emitting device according to the first embodiment of the present invention; and [0018] FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view for explaining a fluorescent fiber of a white light-emitting device using a fluorescent fiber according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 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